1996 Ski Nautique Open Bow

[SilentSeven]

...the interior alone up here would be $6K - $7K.....

You are not alone in trying to mentally ballpark what a job like this would be. First and foremost, you need a quality, trusted shop to pull it off. And it's one thing to put carpet down the floor and replace the skins but from what I see, this thing needs the full monty - the bases, sides and motor box re-carpeted and new foam cut for all the seats. Along with every single skin sewn and installed. Base carpeting can be fussy to get right.

I wouldn't be surprised (at least here in the $eattle area) to see numbers north of what you're suggesting bturner

Looking forward to what NautiqueJeff decides to do. And I'm glad to live vicariously through him.

[NautiqueJeff]

Well, I have decided to pull the boat up to C&S Marine's shop in New Jersey this winter, and have them do the whole interior transformation! They'll make the new skins, cut the new foam, and install everything.

I'll get it all polished and buffed before that, so that the upholstery and carpet are the last things to go in (other than maybe the engine, which needs to be put back together).

The before and after pictures on this one are going to be amazing!

[SilentSeven]

hmmm....C&S Marine huh....hmmm....yeah...I guess they're probably qualified. Be neat if you can get some 'in progress' pictures and post. Be fun to see how it comes together.

[bturner]

I agree. Another thought would be to have them stream a couple sessions on the process, sort of like the car shows. Then there's the Jeff's Garage YouTube channel that documents the process with weekly videos. I've got tons of ideas to make you famous Jeff.....

[Scooter G]

He's pretty much an icon already. At least according to the boys over at Nautique Parts when he walks through the doors, haha. They take the rest of the week off after filling the order.

[NautiqueJeff]

Ha! I do order a LOT of parts from them, and they also have two of my boats right now that needed WLM's magic touch.

I am actually considering doing some videos of some of the repairs I do. Thinking about starting with the steering cable on the 1998 Ski Nautique that is currently in the PlanetNautique MicroShop.

[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, I got the boat all stripped down today. I'll pull it over to the world-famous BBC here in Mooresville, NC next week and pull the engine out of it. Then it will be ready for the gelcoat transformation.

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's the engine that "just needs to be put back together", according to the previous owner. We'll see if it is even worth a rebuild. If nothing else, it has GT40P heads, so those are of some value.

[NautiqueJeff]

The original dash should be able to be cleaned up, I hope. All of the gauges are there, and appear to be in decent shape. I'll do my normal refurbishment of the Airguides, and probably replace the button panel and radio panel (which has the original 1996 cassette deck still mounted).

Check out the awesome Ski Nautique keychain floatie! I hope I can save that. It is cool!

[jtryon]

did they pay YOU to take this one?

[Scooter G]

As Arnold once said,
"get downnn, grenade!" lol
This will indeed be fun to watch, stay tuned for page 14...

[NautiqueJeff]

did they pay YOU to take this one?

No, but it was close!

It came with a good trailer and a windshield, which is all I wanted for what I paid. The boat was actually a little better than I expected.

[mtrader]

Now I'm definitely following this restoration! good luck.

[NautiqueJeff]

Well, the interior panels from the Rat Nautique have been loaded up and I will drop them off at C&S Marine tomorrow!

This may be their biggest challenge yet.

[MN Ryan]

That keychain is sweet. They should make replicas--even though mine is keyless, I want one!